Here’s How to Do Object Tracking with the Zhiyun Crane 2 Gimbal

Thanks to the recent advancements in gimbal technology, pistol grip stabilizers can do more than just smoothing out your footage. Most of these devices are controllable using a mobile app connected via WiFi or Bluetooth, just like the Zhiyun Crane 2.

The product has generated a lot of buzz in the community with its advanced features, an integrated follow focus control, and reliable performance. What’s more, with the mobile application, the gimbal is able to assist you when moving the camera with built-in features such as object tracking. Filmmaker Chung Dha will walk us through this particular workflow in the video below.

The object tracking is especially handy when you’re trying to use your gimbal to move around a stationary subject. Rather than having to focus on controlling the gimbal and panning the head, the object tracking feature allows you to focus on your actual movement while the gimbal pulls off the tracking shot for you.

To take advantage of this functionality, you will need to mount your phone on the top of your camera. Dha achieved this by obtaining a smartphone mount of his camera and then attaching using a hotshot adapter. Since the app is not actually meant for proper monitoring, you can’t use it effectively as such a tool. All it does is using the camera from your phone to track an object and control the gimbal so it can keep the object in the middle of your frame along the way.

Once you’ve mounted your phone to your camera, download the Zhiyun Assistant app from your device’s app store. Then open the app and select the Crane 2 from the product list. Afterward, connect to the gimbal via Bluetooth to get the live view image coming from your smartphone’s camera.

Inside of the interface, tap and drag over the area you want to track. It would be best to pick a point that is stationary and is well lit with some decent contrast to make the tracking process more straightforward. After you’ve selected your tracking point, you’re all set! All you need to do is start moving and the gimbal, using your phone as the tracking camera, will keep your subject’s position in the frame.

Apparently, you can utilize this neat feature in a vast array of run and gun shooting situations when you need to track an object quickly on the fly. Best of all, you won’t be distracted while filming since the gimbal itself will do all the heavy lifting for you. This feature is also available with the older Zhiyun Cranes that can be controlled by the ZY Play App as well as the Zhiyun smartphone gimbals.